Boogie Rip pitched as the write stuff

The Life: First came e-Readers, now come e-Writer for the modern author or those digitally wanting to jot down notes on the go.

The Boogie Rip e-writer pad lets its users save any scribbles that they have jotted down on the pad. Courtesy Improv Electronics

E-readers have been on the market for some years now, with Amazon's Kindle and the iRiver e-book range being among the most popular devices available.

Q&A: Are e-readers worth a look?

Are there any other e-writing tablets apart from the Boogie Rip available on the market? Improv Electronics' tablet is the only product that has been classed an "e-writer". But there are other writing tablets and stylus products out there, with the most notable being that from a company called Wacom (wacom.com), which offers various tablets for home users and graphic designers with prices starting US$57 (Dh209) on Amazon.com.

Hold on, is there an app for e-writing? Yes there is, an app called MyScript Stylus Mobile. This app is available for phones or tablets running the Android operating system and the Windows Mobile platform. It works with the use of your finger or a stylus, but it is mainly geared towards texting and chatting on social networks rather than note taking. A downside to it is that users cannot save their written notes in PDF format.

Why would I not just scribble down my notes on an actual paper notepad or even tablet computer? The Boogie Board would be a good buy for those who are terrible at keeping paper notes or who do not see how they will use all the features of Apple's iPad. Also, at $100, the Boogie Rip will be more affordable than the $499 iPad 2.

Those who like to read their digital books on the go might also be interested in writing their digital notes on the go, too, with a tablet device that has been (predictably) called an e-writer and is expected to cost just over US$100 (Dh367).

Improv Electronics' latest product, the Boogie Rip - "Record, image, preserve" - is a 9.5-inch e-writer pad that lets its users save any scribbles they have jotted down on the pad with the use of a stylus and then export that information in PDF format to a computer through the Boogie Rip's micro-USB port.

And if owners of this product have a brainwave they want to save, the tablet also has an "erase lock" to prevent deletion of notes.

The maker of the Boogie Rip says it offers up to one week of battery life per charge because of its reflex LCD screen that consumes power only when users are erasing notes.

Improv Electronics hopes the Boogie Rip's paper-saving and productivity benefits will have the most notable impact in education and workplace environments, where note taking is most prominent.

Top 5: e-readers.

1 Amazon Kindle.

2 Barnes and Noble Nook/Nook Colour.

3 Apple iPad.

4 Kobo.

5 Sony Digital Reader.

Source: Lifehacker.com

The technology behind the Boogie Rip could even find its way into smartphones and other tablets, possibly making visits to the stationery store to buy writing materials a distant memory.

The Boogie Rip will begin shipping on November 1 for purchases via improvelectronics.com.

It will also be available from select global retailers shortly thereafter.

The Quote: "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist and philosopher.